Abstract: Disclosed are homopolymers and copolymers of a monomer or a mixture of monomers having the formula ##STR1## in which the average value of n (n) is in the range from greater than 1 to about 10, being oligomeric usually prepared from acrylic acid. In the mixtures of such monomers, the number n may range from 1 to 30 or more. Also disclosed are methods of preparing the polymers, methods of using them, and articles of manufacture containing the polymers.

Abstract: Ambient or low-temperature curable aqueous dispersions of (1) an emulsion polymer containing units polymerized from a monomer mixture of (a) from about 0.25% to about 10% by weight of a polymerizable aldehyde, (b) from about 0.5% to about 10% by weight of an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, and (c) up to about 99.25% by weight of at least one copolymerizable mono-ethylenically unsaturated monomer, with (2) a curing agent selected from the group of dicarboxylic acid bis-hydrazides and bis-hydrazones are disclosed. The dispersions are useful in leather treating compositions, especially in top coat compositions. A process for producing fully finished leather, or leather substitutes is also disclosed.

Abstract: Emulsion copolymers containing a) from about 0.25 to about 4% by weight acrolein, b) from about 0.5 to about 10% by weight of an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, and c) up to about 99.25% by weight of an alkyl acrylate, an alkyl methacrylate, or mixtures thereof are disclosed. The copolymers are useful in leather treating compositions, and particularly in base coat compositions.